Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘Zinde was set to put son in rehab’
Gran’s affidavit tells of his drug battle
SLAIN former SABC journalist and board member Hope Zinde was on the brink of sending her son to drug rehabilitation days before he allegedly murdered her, a court has heard.
The news emerged in an affidavit submitted to the Brits Regional Court yesterday by Zinde’s mother, Audrey Zinde.
The dead woman’s son, Mark Warona Zinde, 23, stands accused of murdering her and being in possession of drugs.
The affidavit was used in support of a request by defence attorney Mogorosi Molusi that Mark Zinde undergo psychiatric evaluation.
Before a packed gallery, Molusi read an affidavit from the accused’s grandmother, in which the grieving woman detailed her daughter’s attempt to help Mark deal with his drug addiction.
Audrey Zinde also pleaded with the court to see the accused admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Wearing a navy blue jacket and a white shirt, Mark Zinde seemed more aware of his environment than during his first appearance on Monday.
But he still seemed somewhat confused when he entered the courtroom, constantly looking at the floor while his lawyer read out the affidavit.
“As of June 4, 2016, Hope was on the brink of having the accused admitted for treatment and rehabilitation,” Molusi read from the affidavit, in which the accused’s grandmother detailed reasons for her daughter’s decision.
“The accused was showing signs of being totally withdrawn, not communicating, bizarre behaviour, locking himself in his room the whole day, being aggressive and violent, as well as being a danger to himself and others,” the defence attorney said.
The grandmother said her daughter believed the accused was not of sound mind or in a normal state of health.
She said her daughter had told her the accused had been admitted to Vista Clinic on account of misuse of drugs in 2013.
“The need for rehabilitation gave me the impression that the accused used drugs, which caused a serious personality and mental change.”
Audrey Zinde also referred to a 2014 letter from psychiatrist Dr Francis Kariuki, in which he offered an assessment of the accused.
“I submit that it goes without saying that the accused and Hope were in constant communication about her intentions to get him taken in for rehabilitation,” the grandma wrote.
“It further cannot be denied that Hope’s intentions were greatly resisted, not out of wellthought reason. Any resistance for Hope’s intervention was a result of the accused’s mental ill-health.”
Hope Zinde’s body was found stuffed in the boot of her car last Saturday after she reportedly went missing.
Her mother said in her affidavit her grandson had turned away the family’s domestic worker on the morning of June 8 when she reported for work.
“The accused aggressively grabbed her by the collar of her garment and pushed her to the door and ordered her to go away.”
Audrey Zinde said, based on that report, she and her other daughter Fikile went to the Hartbeespoort home.
The accused had refused to allow a security guard to let them enter the residential complex.
Police were called, and the body was later found.
Magistrate Lourens Mattiah accepted the submissions and affidavits and postponed the matter to July 18 to allow the accused to undergo psychiatric forensic evaluation.
tankiso.makhetha@inl.co.za